10 Things to Add to your College Packing list
- colewoods6
- Aug 5, 2023
- 5 min read
Updated: Aug 10, 2023
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Moving to college can be one of the most stressful and time consuming things you ever do. There is so much preparation that needs to be done to ensure that your college move is as smooth as possible. There is lots to pack, and you have most likely already scrolled through dozens of packing lists designed for college students. And odds are, they all seem like carbon copies of one another. You know you need to bring clothes, you know you need to bring toiletries, but there are some things about college, and dorm life especially, that these packing lists fail to account for. Below is a list of my top 10 most important college essentials that may not be on your packing list yet, but definitely should be.
#1: A Rubber Doorstop
A doorstop is cheap, takes up almost no space, and is such an important addition to your dorm. Propping your door open is an easy way to meet people who are walking by and might stop in to say hello. See my earlier blog post for more information on the importance of something as simple as a doorstop.
#2: Clip Fan
Unless you are going to a brand new college or live in an extremely hot area, I can almost guarantee your freshman dorms will not have air conditioning. A box fan should already be on your packing list. But something else to consider is a smaller fan for those extra hot and muggy days. I had a lofted bed, and my box fan didn’t do much to cool me off when I was up there. I used this clip fan all the time. It clipped on to the frame of my bed and was rechargeable, so I didn’t need to run a cord all the way up to me.
#3: 10-foot long charging cable
You have never experienced true freedom unless you have used a 10 foot long charging cable. With one, you can basically charge your phone from anywhere in your dorm if you wish. But for me, I ran this cord from an outlet near the floor and up to my lofted bed, which you may have as well. Since I used my phone as an alarm, it was important to have it near my bed and to have a cord that could reach it.
#4: Charging Tower
There will be a lot of things in your dorm that need to be plugged in, and you will probably only have 3-4 outlets in your dorm max. For example, in my dorm I had a laptop cord, monitor, box fan, TV, mini fridge, gaming console, humidifier, 2 phone cords, and more, that all needed to be plugged in somewhere. This tower has several 3 prong outlets and usb outlets, as well as a surge protector. This is a must have for everyone’s dorm.
#5: Bedside Caddy
Earlier, I mentioned that I kept my phone near my bed to use as an alarm, but I needed something to hold it. This is where a bedside caddy comes in handy. This one in particular has several pockets and latches on using velcro, making it attachable to any type of bed your dorm will have. This caddy was more than big enough to hold my phone, water bottle, and any other items I stored periodically throughout the day.
#6: Phone Card Holder
I cannot tell you how many people I know that use a phone card holder. Many schools, mine included, require student IDs to get into buildings and to use for meal swipes. If you carry a wallet on you everywhere you go, you probably don’t need one. However, you will need to carry your ID wherever you go. Odds are you don’t go anywhere without a phone, so this item is a must have. It is super easy to tap your ID on sensors through the holder without taking the ID out at all. Most wallets are too thick to scan through.
#7: Small Safe
Unless your college is 5 minutes away from your house, you should have all of your important documents with you in case of emergency. This includes your passport, social security card, drivers license, insurance information, birth certificate, medical cards, car registration/insurance, etc. These are just some examples of documents you want to have with you that need to be protected. Get yourself a small safe that can fit in your closet or under your bed, and make sure it is fireproof. Better safe than sorry.
#8: Small Vacuum
It is always a pain to have until you're left without one when you need one. I started my freshman year without a vacuum, and was constantly reminded of how much I needed one. I got one second semester, and was then burdened by the space it took up. It's a bit of a Catch 22. This one is pretty small and can be utilized for small jobs and bigger ones. It may be a bit of a pain to store it, but trust me when I say you’ll regret not having one (the ones usually provided by your dorm are big, bulky, and do a terrible job).
#9: Laundry Backpack
You need something to carry your laundry to and from the washing machine. I would strongly recommend a laundry backpack. Instead of carrying a big bin around, you can throw this over your shoulder and use your newly freed up hands to carry detergent and dryer sheets. Additionally, this bag is super portable and can carry a lot more laundry than the bins that would fit in your closet.
#10: Laptop Stand
You will be doing a lot of work on your laptop, both in and out of class. You will also be spending a fair bit of time hunching over your computer. For your health and comfort, I would suggest reducing that time as much as possible. When you are working in your dorm, try using a laptop stand to raise your eyes a bit and take some stress off your neck and back. If you try this out, you will also need a keyboard and mouse. I would recommend anything by Logitech, since their tech works with any laptop brands.
Obviously, this isn't a complete packing list. But these are items you definitely want to consider adding to your shopping cart.
Great list really helpful!